Getting Political Is Running for Office the Next Step for Researchers in the Fight Against Climate Inaction?

CLIMATE CHANGE OUTLOOK CHAD HIPOLITO

Climate modeller and Canadian politician Andrew Weaver.

POLICY Getting political Is running for office the next step for researchers in the fight against climate inaction?

BY PETER FAIRLEY championed fossil fuels and neglected climate everywhere: in classrooms and churches, facto- policy. He negotiated climate-friendly terms ries and farms. We’re on sidewalks, in cafes, on t’s moving day at the Legislative Assembly with the NDP to install John Horgan as the the airwaves and in your Twitter feeds,” declared of British Columbia on a sunny summer party’s first premier in 16 years. Jacquelyn Gill, a palaeoecologist at the Univer- morning in Victoria, Canada, and climate Weaver is an internationally recognized sity of Maine in Orono, in The Washington Post Iscientist-turned politician Andrew Weaver pioneer of models that represent Earth’s physi- on the eve of the marches, which she helped to is battling to retain an expansive leather sofa cal systems at a modest resolution, facilitating organize. “The age of ivory tower science is over, for his new basement office. Just a few weeks the simulation of climate over tens of thou- and it must not return.” earlier, in May 2017, thousands of people in sands of years. His ascent from academic to Benjamin Santer echoed Gill’s view at a and around Victoria cast their votes for the political power broker is a far cry from the Capitol Hill gathering two months later. “If British Columbia Green Party, which Weaver attacks on climate scientists that are under you’re a climate scientist at this critical time leads, growing the caucus from his one lonely way in the United States. But there are US you don’t have Miranda rights,” said Santer, an seat to three. The wider of the office’s sofas, he researchers who dare to dream that they too atmospheric scientist at the Lawrence Liver- explains, will be crucial during long nights of can tilt the political balance. In fact, dozens more National Laboratory in California. “You debate and voting. “This is the one you can have declared the intent to run for local, state don’t have the right to remain silent.” sleep on. And we need that.” or national office, promising to reverse the dis- Some researchers, however, worry that Three seats in an 87-seat legislature might missal of climate change and other anti-science electioneering risks crossing a hitherto sacred sound modest, but it’s enough to make positions espoused by US President Donald boundary between science and partisanship. Weaver — a professor at the University of Trump’s administration and other Republican Similar to a controlled burn that escapes its Victoria — into a political kingmaker. The Party leaders. limits, getting political could burn the climate incumbent Liberal Party and the opposition Their activism hews to a trend: in recent community if it deepens the divides that sur- New Democratic Party (NDP) each garnered years, climate scientists have grown increasingly round climate science. fewer than half of the seats, giving Weaver’s outspoken. Their call for immediate action to Green Party the balance of power. Weaver avoid the worst effects of anthropogenic climate HOLDING THE BALANCE exercised his new-found influence in the weeks change was a key theme of the March for Sci- Weaver was already well-versed in climate after the election to remove Christy Clark, the ence rallies held on Earth Day in April 2017 in politics when he decided to run for office in Liberal premier of British Columbia, who had more than 500 cities worldwide. “Scientists are British Columbia five years ago. A lead author

OUTLOOK CLIMATE CHANGE on the second to the fifth assessment reports argument proffered by academics. “They’re according to Calgary Herald columnist Don of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate disturbed by what’s happening on the climate Braid in a June 2017 piece, made Weaver into Change — an organization that shared the front and are really annoyed that politicians “almost a stock villain” in Alberta. “It’s damned

2007 Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore — he are no longer listening to people who actually annoying,” he writes. “One [legislator], com- RICCARDO SAVI was part of the advisory team that, in 2008, know what they’re talking about,” says Lawson. manding only three votes in total, could stall helped Liberal premier Gordon Campbell to the pipeline for more months or years, and craft a climate action plan. The policy pack- GREENING THE AGENDA maybe right out of existence.” age stymied the building of coal-fired power Over the next four years, Weaver pushed back Weaver has also been demonized in British plants by requiring their emissions to be fully against Clark’s vision for fossil-fuel-driven Columbia for allegedly splitting the progres- captured and sequestered. It also introduced economic growth. Although Clark paid little sive vote and therefore undermining the NDP. North America’s first carbon tax, which would heed, Weaver’s stance put pressure on the All this for a job that, Weaver says, entailed a rise to Can$30 (US$25) per tonne of carbon opposition NDP to step up. “Weaver forced huge cut in salary and cost him both his chair dioxide equivalent over the next four years as the NDP to return to the environmental side at the University of Victoria and his place at the Europe’s market-based carbon price slid to less of their traditional coalition,” says Lawson. The forefront of climate modelling. than half that value. party reversed its earlier stance against carbon But for Weaver, it is more than worth it. Not Then Weaver watched as leadership on taxes, for example, and opposed a controversial just because he is fighting for his own values, climate both at home and abroad faltered. In pipeline from oil sands in the neighbouring but because of the human side of legislat- British Columbia, the NDP campaigned to province of Alberta that is projected to boost ing that all elected representatives encoun- axe the carbon tax in 2009. Shortly after came tanker traffic in Vancouver and Victoria ter — whether or not they have worn a lab what Weaver calls the “terribly depressing” sevenfold, increasing the risk of oil spills. coat. Weaver says that helping constituents Copenhagen agreement, in which the inter- Now, however, Weaver is policing has turned what began as a moral imperative national community failed to commit to rein- government policy from a position of power. into something immensely satisfying. “I didn’t ing in greenhouse-gas emissions. And then, The agreement he forged after the May 2017 realize how rewarding it would be when you’re in 2011, the Liberal Party replaced its then election to put the NDP in power set British there helping constituents access the system,” leader Campbell with Clark, who favoured Columbia back on course towards climate he explains. the development of fossil-fuel industry. Clark action. As Gregor Robertson, mayor of Van- froze the carbon tax and staked British Colum- couver, puts it: “The dynamic duo of John CLIMATE CANDIDATES bia’s future on building a liquefied natural gas Horgan and Andrew Weaver has changed the In the United States, an increasing number industry that would obliterate the province’s game for British Columbia. We have an oppor- of researchers say that they are ready to join emissions-reduction targets for 2020. tunity to become climate leaders and economic the political fight, their resolve galvanized by Enough was enough. In 2012, Weaver leaders in a low-carbon future.” Weaver’s back- President Trump’s ambition to eviscerate US concluded his university course on climate and ground, he says, “adds major credibility.” climate policy and slash federal funding for society, as he had done for years, by lecturing The carbon tax will start to rise again in 2018, science — an agenda that has emboldened his students on intergenerational equity and at $5 per tonne per year until 2021. That is half long-standing opponents of climate action in their “duty and responsibility” to either vote of the boost advocated by the Green Party in Congress. A growing number of scientists say or “consider running” for office themselves. the run-up to May’s election. But the tax’s scope that the situation calls for more than speak- But this time he went a step further. “I took will expand to cover two sources that account ing out from the sidelines, and several dozen a look in the mirror,” says Weaver. “I couldn’t for more than one-third of British Columbia’s have already announced preparations to chal- just write another paper on climate science carbon emissions: carbon dioxide released lenge the climate-change deniers on their talking about this problem that we have all the during the burning of forestry leftovers and home turf — in state capitols and in the halls solutions for. I have kids. I had to step up.” methane leaked by the oil and gas industry. of power in Washington DC. Weaver took temporary On expanding the infrastructure for fossil Among those running for Congress is leave from his endowed “The age of fuels, the deal commits the NDP government Joseph Kopser, a combat veteran and tech- professorship, joined a ivory tower to “immediately employ every tool available” to nology entrepreneur who holds a bachelor’s Green Party that was yet science is block the controversial Alberta pipeline expan- degree in aerospace engineering, and a mas- to have a member elected over, and sion. Energy giant Kinder Morgan expected ter’s degree from the John F. Kennedy School to the British Columbia it must not to start building it in September 2017, along- of Government at Harvard University in legislature, and then took return.” side an existing oil pipeline, but Weaver says Cambridge, Massachusetts. Kopser is chal- on a Liberal government one word captures the project’s status: dead. lenging Texas congressman Lamar Smith, a minister in a suburban In August 2017, the NDP government joined Republican who chairs the US House of Rep- electoral district of Victoria where the Green lawsuits filed by two Canadian cities, several resentatives Committee on Science, Space, and Party previously garnered just under 9% of the of Canada’s First Nations and various environ- Technology and who has used subpoenas to vote. Although observers gave him little chance mental groups that are challenging the previous seek data and internal communications from of winning, Weaver told local paper the Times Liberal government’s approval of the project. climate researchers in what Michael Mann, a Colonist that he was hopeful: “Of course I’m The fight pits British Columbia against climatologist at Pennsylvania State University, optimistic. I’m a climate scientist and I haven’t Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and calls a “McCarthy-like assault on science.” slashed my wrists yet.” the government of Alberta, which views the Another candidate is Hans Keirstead, who On election day in May 2013, Weaver won pipeline as a much-needed shot in the arm for pioneered stem-cell therapies for spinal-cord with 40% of the vote. James Lawson, a political an oil-sands industry that has been pummelled injuries at the University of California, Irvine. scientist at the University of Victoria, credits in recent years by low oil prices. It is a politi- Keirstead, now chief executive officer at AIV- Weaver’s electoral breakthrough to highly edu- cal confrontation that many commentators ITA Biomedical in Irvine, is targeting California cated professionals. Whereas voters elsewhere think Horgan would have preferred to avoid congressman Dana Rohrabacher, a Republican are rejecting the ‘elites’ — “particularly those by letting the pipeline pass — were it not for who — similarly to President Trump, Smith and that look like the teacher that insulted them his deal with Weaver. many others in their party — has called global in high school,” says Lawson — the electorate The leverage to turn the political tide warming “a total fraud.” in Victoria tends to be friendlier to the sort of against continued fossil-fuel development has, Contenders such as Kopser and Keirstead

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CLIMATE CHANGE OUTLOOK

The Washington DC represent a much- 22nd Congressional District. Initially vowing National Institutes of Health,” says Morrow. March for Science, needed rebalancing of to fight for scientists who “have the oil compa- Gill also blames the Republicans: “There is held in April. US legislatures, accord- nies coming at them guns blazing”, he aborted an outright attack on climate science, on public ing to Josh Morrow, his campaign in July, citing concerns about science, on our scientific institutions and on who leads a non-profit organization called fund raising, the entrance of a more-estab- education. While those attacks are partisan, 314 Action (named after the mathematical con- lished candidate, and an unnerving request then we necessarily have to be partisan.” Gill stant π), which is dedicated to recruiting and for his emails that was filed with his employer says she is a registered Democrat because she training scientists to help them to get elected. by a conservative political-action committee. supports science: “I vote with the party that Morrow notes that there is probably only one aligns with my values.” PhD-level scientist among the 535 members of PICKING SIDES But Foley sees partisanship as a potential the current House of Representatives and the Some in the climate community are concerned slippery slope to even greater polarization of Senate, compared with more than 200 lawyers. that science itself could be sullied as more the public opinion of science. He notes that Gill, the palaeoecologist who was involved researchers jump into the political ring. Jona- perceptions of academia in the United States in the planning of the March for Science, says than Foley, a researcher on ecosystem science have changed dramatically in recent years, she seriously considered running for office, and sustainability who leads the California citing a July 2017 poll that found 58% of motivated by the “shameful” lack of scientific Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, says respondents who identify as Republican view literacy among the people deciding science it would be “extremely dangerous” if science universities as a “negative” for the country. policy at the highest level. “We should abso- is seen to be taking sides in the hyperpartisan That’s up from 45% last year, and in stark con- lutely have a climate scientist in Congress on politics that is gripping the United States. trast to the 72% of self-described Democrats the House science committee,” she says. Although there is broad agreement that who view academia as a “positive”. But prospective scientist–politicians face science should not be partisan, only one of this Foley wants to see more standing up for a number of hurdles — not least, the effects year’s batch of scientist candidates — Univer- science and less politicking. “Science should of being thrust into the public eye. When Gill sity of California, Berkeley, evolutionary biolo- be free from censorship and political interfer- signed up for 314 Action’s training, she found gist and Public Library of Science co-founder ence. It should be supported. And it should herself caught up in a media frenzy after the Michael Eisen, who is gearing up to run for the speak truth to power,” he says. “But it shouldn’t Boston Globe erroneously reported that she Senate — has signalled his intention to do so as take a side. Although that might seem diffi- had decided to run for Congress. As an out- an independent. The rest are throwing in their cult — or even naive — today in the United spoken activist for diversity in science and a lot with the Democratic Party. States, I think it’s crucial for science.” co-host of climate podcast Warm Regards, with 314 Action, which says it advocates for Weaver, for his part, is unapologetic about environmental journalist Andrew Revkin and evidence-based policy, is only supporting entering a partisan game. The Green Party has meteorologist Eric Holthaus, Gill is no stranger Democratic candidates for Congress. And benefited from such divisions in the political to public forums. Nevertheless, she felt that the one of them, Chrissy Houlahan, who trained landscape of British Columbia, which have announcement, coming before she had even at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology given his agenda of promoting evidence-based made a decision on whether to run, robbed her and Stanford University, is challenging an decision-making a level of prominence that of her agency. “I didn’t have a lot of space to incumbent who is among a minority of House belies his party’s small size. think, because there was so much interest,” says Republicans who are calling for action on With politicians absorbing misinformation Gill. The experience led her to decide against anthropogenic climate change: Pennsylvania from blogs and other non-credible sources, standing. She wanted to make sure that she congressman Ryan Costello. He belongs to the says Weaver, scientists have no choice but to could continue to mentor students, as well as bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus and has play the political game. “We can’t just have a preserve her freedom to speak plainly. “I’m decried President Trump’s withdrawal from march here for science and a march there for pretty mouthy!” she declares, unapologetically. the 2015 Paris climate agreement. science — we need scientists to step up and The price of politics also proved too high To some, this apparent partisanship is a start running. We need to actually have them for another early 314 Action recruit: Patrick reaction to the Republican Party’s embrace of at the table.” ■ Madden, a computer scientist at Binghamton anti-science policies. “Our donors aren’t going University in New York who, in May 2017, to want to support someone who supports Paul Peter Fairley is a freelance science writer announced his intention to run for New York’s Ryan’s budget that cuts research grants for the based in Victoria, British Columbia.

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